SUWANEE, Ga. -- People from Athens metro Atlanta met Tuesday to offer comments on the environmental impact of six proposed routes for a high-speed train between Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., and linking to Washington and New York. One route would go through Athens, one through Augusta.

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Nearly 75 people attended a public meeting in suburban Atlanta to gain information and to comment on six proposed routes for a high-speed rail line linking two of the South’s major economic centers.

One of the proposals would go through Augusta and Columbia. A different one would go through Athens.

Augusta didn’t send a delegation. It can still have input through written comments either mailed to the Georgia Department of Transportation or submitted online.

“At this point, there is no preferred route based on any one consideration,” said DOT Project Manager Derrick Cameron.

Officials said the Augusta-Columbia route is the longest and would have the slowest speeds due to the twists and turns, but it also links the largest population centers. Other routes have different combinations of strengths and weaknesses.

The meeting, held at a city building in Suwanee because it’s the site of a likely station, was the first of a series of meetings in three states during the early phases of planning the train line. Significant details such as the cost of construction and the price of a passenger ticket remain to be worked out, including which entity would actually own and run the railroad.

The biggest question, how to pay for it, will be left to the politicians sometime in 2015 after the $4 million study is completed.

Most of the people looking at the maps and asking questions were from metro Atlanta, but a vanload from Athens came to campaign for the city’s inclusion.

“We’re lobbying for a route that will connect Athens to the line,” said Doc Eldridge, president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jack Crowley, a University of Georgia professor who once served as Oklahoma’s transportation chief, said the train would benefit the college community.

“If Athens and the university are going to connect to the rest of the world, it’s got to connect to the airport,” he said.

Designers included the airports in Atlanta and Charlotte and proposed a stop at the Greenville-Spartanburg airport, as well.

The engineers and consultants at Tuesday’s meeting stressed that this step is a high-level evaluation using readily available information. The next phase would require on-site assessments, surveys and detailed analysis.

“It’s going to be revisited at least a couple more times before you build it,” said Andrew Smith, a member of the consulting firm HNTB Corporation conducting the study.

SHARE YOUR VIEW

Written comments can be sent to:

Glenn Bowman

State Environmental Administrator

Georgia Department of Transportation

600 W. Peachtree St.

Atlanta, GA 40408

Online comments and maps of the actual routes are at www.dot.ga.gov/AtlantaCharlotteHSR

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Depends on who in Augusta will make money from it. "Officials said the Augusta-Columbia route is the longest and would have the slowest speeds due to the twists and turns" doesn't that perfectly describe Augusta's politics???

The Augusta/Columbia route would be the most profitable of routes. It's a shame that the ARC "Leaders" don't realize what a boost it could be here. There is no need for anymore rail lines or spurs since all that are necessary already exist here. Wherever the station/depot is located will have increased business from people waiting for the train to arrive or getting off the train. The support business and industry that comes with it, Rental cars, restaurants, lodging and shopping in the area. I'm surprised Countyman is not tripping over his keyboard on this!

Well said cold beer. All of my relatives are in the Charlotte area, guess why? Better jobs and opportunities. This is a chance for this out dated city to grow economically. Not to mention the cost of gas and the wear and tear on a vehicle. I'd hop on it any day.

Yes, I saw GPB Chip Rogers posting about this high speed rail connection between Atlanta and Charlotte as well. If Atlanta can't get money to expand MARTA, how is the state going to finance this billion dollar project?

I agree it sounds like a wonderful project but where is the money for it?

To run a high speed rail from Atlanta to Charlotte through Augusta would not be cost effective for anyone. It would defeat the purpose of "high speed". No one would use it. Now a high speed rail line connecting Atlanta to Charleston SC through Augusta would and could work. It is interesting that no one from Augusta's leadership even went to this meeting.

That's a useless article! How about some facts and figures? How much slower would the route through Augusta be? Why didn't anyone from Augusta go?
Personally I love the high speed rail in Europe. It makes travel so much easier and relaxing than driving. If there were an option, I'd use it -- but it would have to connect to transportation in the destination (not just rental cars!).

This story didn't stay on page one long. I am surprised so many believe this billion dollar boondoggel may be a good thing. How is the rest of the state that doesn't get the rail going to feel having to support this thing? We are going to commit a fortune to a project to serve a couple of cities? We are going to pay the millions in yearly maintenance to a rail where tickets will be so expensive few can ride? Someone talked about personal savings on driving expenses, but wait until you see the ticket price.

So what's the reason for the rail? Some say it decreases traffic, but studies in Europe shows that's not the case. The few riders don't decrease traffic THAT much. The train simply can't be justified even if some think it's like riding the Disneyland Monorail.

Finally, realize this whole thing will tie up our transportation funding for so long, it is a multigenerational project where no one under about 3 years old would ever ride the thing.

ColdBeer. I've already expressed the desire to build the multimodal system downtown(buses, streetcar, light rail, police precint)... We don't need the FEDS to construct the modern streetcar system connecting the CBD/Medical District/Paine College, and possibly extending to GRU Summerville campus. The Augusta Greenway could be incorporated into the design to make it even more attractive.http://augustagreenway.org/wordpress/

I think the Augusta Exchange or Village at Riverwatch are the best locations in the suburbs.

Augusta should do everything it can to become the first route built in the future. Greenville may have the advantage of being near the I-85 corridor, but the cities of Augusta/Columbia equals more residents.

The fastest route from Point A to Point B. was 245 miles
Using a Atlanta, Augusta, Columbia, Charlotte route was 313 Miles.

But I will also say using the I-85 corridor is shorter in miles .
Logistically and operationally it will end up costing more to build, more $$$ to acquire right-of-way and will end up with more in-between -stops.

My question continues to be WHY do this to begin with?
It seems a MASSIVE WASTE of Taxpayer money we don't have and most aren't willing to be taxed any more to start it.